FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.– After falling by a 5-2 score to the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Friday night, the Saint Leo baseball dropped both games of the doubleheader to the Sharks on Saturday. After a 22-3 loss, the Lions fell by a 4-2 score in game two of the Sunshine State Conference doubleheader.

Senior righty Brent Krauss took the mound for the Lions in game one of the doubleheader, but it was not long before the Nova Southeastern offense forced a pitching change. As the Sharks exploded for 22 hits and 22 runs, six members of the Saint Leo pitching staff appeared in the contest, hoping to put a stop to the home team's offense.

Saint Leo scored three runs in the loss, all of them coming in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Chris Newcomb led off the inning with a single to centerfield, and scored on the next play, a single from sophomore Taylor Perez. Two outs later, freshman Alex Mata sent a two-run homerun over the leftfield fence to give Saint Leo their final three runs.

The Shark's offense could not be stopped, as Nova Southeastern scored a run or more in every inning but the bottom of the seventh, when senior Shaun Adams came in to pitch.

Saint Leo collected 10 hits and three walks in the outing, falling by a 22-3 score.

The second game of the doubleheader featured a much different Nova Southeastern offense, as the Sharks scored just four runs. Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to get their bats going for the third game of the series, falling by a 4-2 score.

Junior Liam O'Sullivan started the second game of the doubleheader, tossing 2.1 innings and allowing four runs before senior lefty Brandon Terry came in for relief. The pair combined for six strikeouts, allowing just six hits.

The Sharks put themselves on the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second on a single and a Saint Leo error. They repeated their effort in the bottom of the third, scoring two more to take a 4-0 lead.

Saint Leo picked up its first run in the top of the fourth inning, thanks to a sacrifice flyout from Alex Mata.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Lions scored one more in the top of the sixth off a Nova Southeastern error to put the score at 4-2 in favor of the Sharks.

Neither team scored for the remainder of the contest, allowing the Sharks to take home a 4-2 victory as well as the series.

In the second game alone, the Lions tallied five hits and allowed just one error.

The Saint Leo baseball team will return to action on Tuesday, March 25 when they travel to Lakeland, Fla. to take on the Florida Southern Moccasins in a non-conference, regional showdown. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

For more on the Saint Leo baseball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Also, be sure to 'Like' the Lions on Facebook and 'Follow' Saint Leo Athletics on Twitter and Instagram.